You can receive independent, expert advice on alcohol treatment and alcohol rehab centres by telephoning DryOutNow.com on 0845 370 0203

The most important consideration in choosing the type of treatment for alcohol addiction is to match the individual to the alcohol treatment that is most likely to lead to a successful outcome.

DryOutNow.com can provide an assessment of all your needs and a recommendation regarding the most effective alcohol treatment for you, given your particular circumstances. We can provide fast, immediate access to alcohol treatment.

A study in the Oct. 1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that adolescent insomnia symptoms are associated with depression, suicide ideation and attempts, and the use of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs such as cocaine.

Findings suggest that the presence of insomnia in adolescents increases the risk of developing mental health problems and also may increase the severity of these problems. Results indicate that adolescents who had symptoms of insomnia were 2.3 times more likely to develop depression in early adulthood than adolescents without symptoms of insomnia. Specifically, at baseline, the insomnia group was more likely to use alcohol, cannabis, and non-cannabis drugs, and was more likely to suffer from depression, suicide thoughts, and suicide attempts. The insomnia group also had a greater risk of developing new incidences of depression and suicide attempts after excluding participants who suffered from these specific psychopathologies at baseline.

When excluding participants who endorsed any mental health problem at baseline, the insomnia group was significantly more likely to develop incident depression. In addition, gender differences emerged for alcohol use, cannabis use, non-cannabis drug use, and depression. Independently of insomnia status, males were significantly more likely to endorse alcohol use, cannabis use, and the use of other drugs, while females were twice as likely to develop depression.

"Previous research in adults has found similar results to this study," said principal investigator and lead author Brandy M. Roane, MS, a doctoral student at the University of North Texas. "The current study suggests adolescents with insomnia are more prone to developing mental disorders, specifically depression."

Insomnia symptoms were reported by 9.4 percent of the adolescents in the study. Information discovered during this study could potentially provide parents, educators and mentors with a sign of a risk factor for the development of mental health issues.

The study involved 4,494 adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age at the beginning of the study, and 3,582 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years in a six-to-seven year follow up. One-hundred and forty-five U.S. middle, junior and high schools were selected to participate based on size, school type, census region, level of urbanization, percentage of Caucasian and African-American students, grade span and curriculum. Health-related variables such as height, weight, pubertal development, mental health status, and chronic and disabling conditions were obtained through in-home interviews and self-report.

Adolescents who reported having trouble falling asleep every day or almost every day were categorized as having insomnia symptoms. Binge drinking was defined as drinking five or more alcoholic beverages in a row, and suicide ideation was based on whether or not a participant had endorsed having thoughts of suicide in the last year.

Reference

Roane et al., ‘Adolescent Insomnia as a Risk Factor for Early Adult Depression and Substance Abuse', Sleep, 31 (10) 1351-1356

Article published on 29/10/2008 by DryOutNow.com

DryOutNow.com provides highly practical help for people with alcohol problems, their friends and relatives. DryOutNow.com also provides free resources for healthcare professionals such as medical information and alcohol treatment guidelines.

• SAMHSA releases new data on drug-related hospital emergency department visits ...... read
• National rates of co-occurring substance use and mental disorders call for better integration of men ...... read
• Study will seek to break cycle of chemical dependence and incarceration ...... read
• Resolving to break an addiction - Help from Harvard Medical School ...... read
• Casual smokers have a greater risk of hazardous drinking and alcohol-use disorders ...... read
• Peptide ghrelin may be involved in both alcohol dependence and overeating ...... read
• Novel compound shows promise for treatment of alcoholism ...... read
• Potential new drug for cocaine addiction and overdose - Journal of the American Chemical Society ...... read
• Toward a fast, life-saving test for identifying the purity of heroin - Analytical Chemistry Journal ...... read
• Culture shapes young people s drinking habits ...... read
• Insomnia in adolescence linked to depression and substance abuse during adolescence and young adults ...... read
• ADHD stimulant treatment may decrease risk of substance abuse in adolescent girls ...... read
• Cocaine addicts display a thinner cortex which may reflect drug use and a pre-existing disposition ...... read
• Resveratrol prevents fat accumulation in livers of alcoholic mice ...... read
• Understanding why methamphetamine is so addictive ...... read
• Top researchers to explore stress and anxiety, trauma, poverty and addiction seminar ...... read
• Avigen initiates opioid withdrawal trial ...... read
• Federal anti-drug ad campaign may have had adverse effects ...... read
• Early adolescence is a sensitive time for exposure to alcohol and drugs ...... read
• Gene mutation key to alcohol tolerance in worm model ...... read

• Make Scotlands roads safer - reduce drink driving limits, says BMA Scotland ...... read
• Study will seek to break cycle of chemical dependence and incarceration ...... read
• More advice on alcohol and healthy living from UK Department of Health ...... read
• Working towards recovery, Getting problem drug users into jobs: UKDPC report released ...... read
• More support needed for employers to hire addicts, says research ...... read